The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-04

lrlenu Vi lOul .. ouoo iS"N s'S
from Amelia"
Maud took the telegram, which was
from her married sister, living some
fifty miles distant This was what 1T
contained. =,
"Have lust learned from nursemaid
OF suspicious stranger making her &C
quaintance. Asking all about The
Willows and number OF inmates.
Seemed to know something OF Tom.
Tall, dark, gentemanly.looking, and
has n scar on one cheek. Look out
for him."
"Has scar on one cheek" echoed
Maud, family, after an instant's blank
silence.
30, Maud, what shall wedo" moan
ed Mrs. Estabrook, sinking back into
Il seat. "And we have actually in
vited him to tea-a burglar! Well,
for friend, thought he seemed very
uncertain about Tom"
II noticed that, too" answered
Maud, with bent brow, recalling GER
tain unreadiness OF tone and manner
which had struck her as strange at
the time. Mamma" she continued,
owe must send Bridget or Maggie over
to the village for help"
"No," almost screamed Mrs. Esta'
brook. mot another person must
leave the house! o, how could Peter
choose the very day Tom was gone?
When he knows how nervous | am,
tool-and to think | told that-the
desperate out there, that there wasn't
aman about theplacel Maud! Maud
what shall we do"
IL think have a plan, mamma"
said Maud, raising her head from her
brown study. "W It 70 moment"
She flew upstairs al wn again.
Now come out on the piazza. He
mustn't suspect anything"
The two ladies rejoined their unwel-
come guest, and Mrs. Estabrook rush
ed into ieverish conversation with
him. But her talk was OF n singular
w warlike kind, turning mainly upon
revolvers, and the proficiency attained
in the use of these deadly weapons by
Bridget and Maggie, two unsophisticat.
ed hand madens, who, in fact, would
not have known toy pistol from n
gating gun. Maud, in spite OF her ten
sion OF anxiety, grew speeches. with
laughter behind her ian as she listened,
iurtively watching the strangers face
and noting its just-controlled uneasi'
ness. Finally, like one who takes a
resolution, he began abruptly, 81 real
ly am in very false position"
80, | beg your pardon, Mr.. Folliott"
quickly interposed Maud, fearing that,
in his rising suspicious, she would lose
her carefully prepared coup. "If you
would like TO remove any ofthelinger-
ing dust OF travel, you have just time
before tea.
The young man rose at this hint,
and Maud, volunteering to show the
way accompanied him up the broad
staircase, and smilingly indicated the
room where his knapsack had been
left. No sooner had he stepped with
in than, quick as a fash, the girl shut
the door and locked it on the out
side, where she had already placed
the key. Then she leaned against the
wall, and listened to the movements
OF the entrapped burglar
For a few moments there was per-
feet stiffness, as if he were trying to
realize the meaning OF that click OF the
lock; then she heard him 90 to the
door and turn the handle, first softly,
then louder and louder. Maud clasp
ed her hands tightly together, feeling
almost hysterical between laughter
and nervousness. Then the rafting
stopped, and voice said, slowly
"Miss Estbrook Are you still thereT'
"Yes," answered Maud, holding her
breath.
"You are not aware that you have
locked me in?"
Maud hesitated for an instant.
But since the explanation must come,
it might as well come at once. YES"
she answered, clearly; 81 did it inten'
tionally."
"In-deedr' The blended accent Of
this word made her feel hysterical
again. "Perhaps you would not
mind telling me Why you did it?"
because you are q burglar" ans
wered the girl, concisely.
There was an indistinct mutter
which might or might not have been
an expletive. Then, after a silence,
the voice inquired, quite formally
"And might | ask what you mean to
do with me?"
keep you shut up here until my
brother or the gardener comes back
and then"
Eyes, and then"
"Then," replied Maud, with a su
den inspiration, 1--WE will let you 90
you 90 peaceably."
There was sound OF suppressed
laughter at this. Then the voice re
joined politely: "Thanks. Twill give
you any assurances you require"
Maud went down to the dining